Assessment of Behavioural Disorders in Children with Functional Constipation

Marwa El-Sonbaty; Ahmed Fathy; Amal Aljohani; Abeer  Fathy

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.677

Authors

Marwa M. El-Sonbaty Child Health Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed Fathy Child Health Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre (Affiliation ID: 60014618), Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Amal Aljohani Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
Abeer Fathy Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.677

Keywords:

Behavioural, Problems, Functional, Constipation, Pediatric

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Functional constipation (FC) is a common health problem in paediatrics that causes significant physical and emotional distress to patients and their families.

AIM: In the current work, we assessed the presence of behavioural problems in children with functional constipation and their pattern and relation to various demographic and disease-associated factors.

METHODS: A cross-sectional case-control study was conducted, including 55 consecutive children aged 4-16 years diagnosed with functional constipation and 55 healthy age and sex-matched controls. Psychological assessment was done using the Pediatric Symptom Checklist â€“ 17 (PSC-17).

RESULTS: Twenty-six (47.3%) patients with FC had positive total PSC-17 scores while none of the controls had positive scores (p-value < 0.001). Positive internalising and externalising behaviours scores and attention problems were found in 36 (65.5%), 15 (27.3%) and 12 (21.8%) of the patients respectively in contrary to controls where only 6 (10.9%) had positive scores in internalising behaviour, and non-showed externalising behaviour and 4 (7.3%) were inattentive. Older age, longer duration of illness, residency in rural areas and presence of encopresis were found to have a significant association with the presence of such problems.

CONCLUSION: Children with FC have more behavioural disorders compared to healthy controls. Integration of psychosocial aspects and their management is recommended during dealing with patients with FC.